Mixture humidifier for explosive engines



Dec. 14 1926.

P. H. FOLEY MIXTURE HUMIDIFIER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed May 23, 1925anveuloz Peter #1? (6% llllllllr.

Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

PETER I-I. FOLEY, OF DETROIT, IVEICHIGAN. i

MIXTURE HUMIDIFIER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

Application filed May 23, 1925. Serial m. 32,594.

V This invention relates to mixture humidiliers for explosive engines.

It is an object of the invention to provide an attachment adapted to bemounted in its entirety upon the intake manifold of an engine fordelivering humidified air inghe intake passage to be mixed with the ueAnother object is to introduce humidified air into the intake passagethrough a plate clamped between the carburetor and intake manifold of anexplosive engine.

Still another object is to continuously humidify air and deliver thehumidified air to the intake passage of an explosive engine responsiveto the suction of said engine.

These and various other objects the invention attains by theconstruction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an explosive engine equipped with the improvedhumidifying attachment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing a tankadapted to be carried by the intake manifold, and a provision fordrawing humidified air from said tank.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing a plate through whichhumidified air is introduced into the intake manifold.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of Fig. 3.

In these views, the reference characters 1, 2 and 3 respectively,designate an explosive engine, the intake manifold of said engine, andthe carburetor thereof.

Between the outlet 4 of said carburetor and the inlet of the intakemanifold, there is clamped a plate 5, formed with a central opening 6registering with the mixture passage of said carburetor and manifold. Myco-pending application, Ser. No. 19,307, filed Mar. 30, 1925, coversplate 5. The plate 5, which is preferably formed of fibre, has anintegral battle member 7 upwardly projecting into the opening 6. Thethickness of said baffle member being somewhat reduced as compared tothe plate proper.

The present invention provides for continuously introducing humidifiedair into the mixture passage through the plate 5. Thus the lower portionof said plate is formed with adjacent bores 7 into which are ledcorresponding ends of metal tubes 8 opening within the central orificeof said cent to the bottomof the battle 7.

Upon the manifold 2 there is mounted a water tank 9, supported in anysuitable manner, for example by means of a sheet metal hanger 1Osuitably attached to said tank and adapted to be engaged by one of theclamping bolts 11 of said manifold. To the upper portion of the tank 9there 1s exteriorly secured a low pressure chamber 12, into which theintake ends of the tubes 8 open intermediate of the top and bottom ofsaid chamber. Into said chamber there also opens through the topthereof, the outlet end of a water delivery tube 13 which forms a returnbend above the chamber 12 and passes through the top of the tank 9extending downwardly within said tank, and terminating adjacent to thebottom. The chamber 12 is imperforate, except for the provision of arestricted air inlet 14 in the bottom of said chamber. The tank 9 has asuitable fill opening normally suitably closed, as for example by thescrew-cap 15.

In the operation of the described device, when the engine 1 is started,the suction existing in the intake passage of said engine acts throughthe tubes 8 and produces a sub-atmospheric condition in the chamber 12,with the result that water flows from the tank 9 through the tube 13 anddischarges into said chamber, air also being drawn into said. chamberthrough the restricted inlet 14. The infiowing air vaporizes the water,and the air thus humidified flows through the tubes 8 and dischargesinto the mixture passage through the plate 5. The heavier particles offuel flowing through the mixture passage because of their weight occupythe lower portion of said passage, and consequently encounter the bafile7 at the same time said particles encounter the high velocity current ofhumidified air discharging at the base of said battle, and are broken upand violently agitated by said air current so as to produce a uniformand highly combustible mixture.

It'has' been found that the water vapor thus commingled with theexplosive charge increases the efliciency of said charge and reduces theformation of free carbon so that necessity of cleaning the spark plugsand scraping carbon deposits from the piston heads is practicallyeliminated.

plate adj a- It is to be noted that the Water tank 9 is in sufficientlyclose proximity to the engine to derive considerable heat from thelatter, so that if ice forms withinsaid tank in cold weather, it willsoon melt after the engine has been started.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with theintake manifold of an explosive engine, of a Water vessel, a commonmeans for securing said manifold and vessel to the engine, a lowpressure chamber having a restricted air inlet, awater supply connectionto said chamber from said vessel, and means for delivering humidifiedair from said chamber to the mixture passage of said manifold.

52. In a device of the character described, the combination with a Watervessel. of a low pressure chamber mounted upon said vessel and having arestricted air inlet in its lower portion, a Water delivery pipe openinginto said chamber and having its inlet in the lower portion of saidvessel, and a suction connection from said vessel to the intake passageof an internal combustion engine.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

PETER H. FOLEY.

